Mumbai: There is a dispute between NDA allies in Maharashtra regarding the division of seats for the Lok Sabha elections. In Maharashtra, the biggest challenge facing the BJP is the situation in which it has to consider its own leaders in addition to securing seats for the constituent party leaders. Last time, NDA won 41 out of 48 seats in the state.
BJP candidates won all the 25 contested seats. Shiv Sena contested in 23 seats and won in 18 seats. But the split in the Shiv Sena after the election is a huge setback for the NDA this time. Along with the split, many senior workers have joined the Congress, which is causing concern in the NDA.
Not only the allies but also the leaders are unhappy about the seat sharing. In Maharashtra, where the NDA government has been formed for years, the contest is likely to be tight this time. The challenge for NDA is recognition in this regard. Marathwad, Vidarbha and North Maharashtra are in the thick of the seat-sharing dispute.
Maharashtra has witnessed minor issues over seat sharing in previous years as well. Union Minister Amit Shah himself came to Mumbai to discuss and resolve the issue. The fact is that Amit Shah held a discussion with the leaders on Tuesday (March 5) but it did not bear fruit. The minister held a discussion with the leaders around 10.30 pm.
In the presence of BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, he tried to convince Sharat Pawar for half an hour. Following this, Amit Shah also spoke to Chief Minister Shinde. The BJP wants to field candidates in 30 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The party’s aim is to win the NDA in all 370 seats at the national level.
Sources also said that BJP is ready to give 12 seats to Shiv Sena Shinde faction and 5 seats to NCP. But the allies were not ready to accept this decision of BJP. The Shinde faction is demanding 23 seats instead of 12. It is reported that Amit Shah has come to resolve the seat sharing dispute, but the matter has not been decided yet.
